Fairfax High School football team banned from postseason play for one year

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) said the team violated Virginia High School League (VHSL) policies last year. The “proselytizing rule,” as it’s known, involves the recruitment of players.

“I think if they had a violation, they got to pay the price. Violations [are] violations,” said Ivan Crutchfield, who supports the one-year ban.

Neither VHS nor FCPS said what the Lions did wrong.

“If you’re wrong and you get caught, you pay a price,” Crutchfield said.

However, not everyone agrees with the ban.

“They sacrificed their summers, they sacrificed after school, getting good grades. They sacrificed so much to be able to play,” said Carraun Barksdale.

FCPS and VHSL learned about the violation as the team reported it themselves.

“If you reported it and you [were] up front as best you can, then it sounds like a little leniency should be in order to,” said Crutchfield.

FCPS admits the ban is a major disappointment for the players and their families.

“However, FCPS remains committed to upholding the values of VHSL programs to ‘promote education, leadership, sportsmanship, character and citizenship for students by establishing and maintaining high standards for school activities and competitions’,” FCPS said in a statement.

“You can’t punish all of them for one bad apple,” Barksdale said.

VHSL announced the football team will remain on probation for the remainder of the school year.